163 Sylvie

Many years ago

Sylvie lay on the table. Her contorted face was wet with tears. Their insults and mocking laughter still echoed in her ears. They were so mean to her. She only wanted to be a part of their group.

The door of their house opened. A man in clean expensive fur coat with boots made of leather entered. He had an aura of extravagance around him.

Other nobles in Vanadis were not as rich as her father. Her father was just a Baron but the way he acted surpassed the extravagance of most merchants. But this wasn't always the case. A few years ago she remembered their old house to be battered and old with a smell unique to old houses. Their serfs were few and their household servants even fewer. They were nobles in name only.

Everything changed about two years ago when her father was appointed as one of the treasurers of the king. She could still see the wide smile of her father when he received the appointment. A few months later and their old house was demolished. Built on top of it was a new one- larger and more beautiful. The number of serfs they had also increased. They even had properties here in the noble district of Holm. Salary for treasurers must be good, she thought.

He took his coat and hung it on the coat rack. His leather boots were set aside. Servants came rushing towards her father, bearing new sets of house clothes.

"The little miss is crying sire" one of the servants said.

"Again?" He looked at Sylvie "Why?"

Sylvie didn't reply. She just avoided her father's eyes.

Her father walked towards her. He dragged a seat close to Sylvie and sat beside her.

"The other noble children again?"

She nodded "I don't know why they don't like me. I just want to be friends with them. They shunned me like I was a disease. They called me names..."

"What names?" Her father asked with anger "What names!?"

Sylvie flinched. "Deranged thief" She looked down "They said that the Omniscient is punishing you for stealing in the treasury by making me weird"

A loud slam on the table sounded. Sylvie's eyes went wide. Her father was fuming in anger. "Shameless gossipers! Shameless all of them. They don't have evidence so why are they acting all high and mighty?" He looked at Sylvie and put his hands on her shoulder "Sylvie, don't associate with them again. Do not talk to them or believe what they are saying. They are liars! Do you understand?"

Sylvie nodded immediately. She doesn't want to see her father like that. It was terrifying.

But the next day she again went to the other children in the noble's district of Holm. She doens't want to disobey her father but she wanted to try again. Being the only child, she had always been alone. Even if the servants were willing to accommodate his conversational needs, she still felt lonely. It was so lonely. Sometimes she would talk to herself just to pass time.

Hopping on the streets, the strap of a basket was slung on her shoulder. The basket was filled with apples to appease them. If they don't want her, then she will force them to. Sylvie smiled just thinking about their acceptance.

Below a huge tree in the noble's district, the noble children congregated. They were all sons and daughters of Barons just like her. They sat and were talking about something.

"I swear, the princess is beautiful. She'll be mine in the future" said a Baron's son.

"Dream on. Your blood is too low to even talk to her. She'll be married to a son of an Earl"

"Or a prince from other kingdoms" added another noble boy.

"Well I suggest you don't give up in your dreams. As for me, I'll have the prince. And then I will become the Queen!" said a noble girl.

"Or one of the Queens" added the same noble boy.

"Can you please shut up? I will enchant him with my charms that he will only have eyes for me"

"Let's just stop this nonsense dreams. We all know that we are too lowborn to even exist in their presence"

All of them were silent. Awkward smiled formed on their faces as if acknowledging the fact. Sylvie saw the silence as her opportunity to catch their attention.

She cleared her throat and all eyes turned towards her "The princess is beautiful. But you know what's more beautiful?" She showed them what she brought "Apples!"

"What are you doing here you deranged thief?"

"Your father is stealing money from the treasury. He is a thief. That makes you a thief. A deranged thief. We don't want no thieves here!"

"Aha! But there was no evidence yes? The accusations were not proven. That makes your statement invalid which makes me joining you valid. Valid. Oh there's the word. There's nothing more valid than apples!" She again showed them her basket and smiled "Get one now. An apple for my friends"

"Apples so nice and juicy, taste it and you'll be happy!" Sylvie sung in a tone

The other noble children showed disgusted looks.

"She's weird"

"Deranged, I tell you, deranged. Something is broken inside her head"

"My father told me not to entertain her"

"A broken deranged daughter of a thief. Get lost scum!"

"Come now" Sylvie still maintained her smile but she was starting to get hurt from their words. "There's no need for vile words. I come in peace. Just taste my apples and you'll see!"

A noble boy walked towards her. He grabbed one of the apples and threw it away.

"You think we are beggars and commoners to want your silly apples? We are nobles! My father has a plantation of apples back in our fief!"

The other children also approached her and did the same. But this time they threw the apples at her. She was hit many times and eventually fell on her butt. Her apples were rolling on the street. Some were squashed. Sylvie started to cry. She doesn't know what to do. She was just a little different from them but that shouldn't be a problem right? She was trying so hard to get their acceptance.

And then she laughed. She laughed so hard that the other noble children showed fear in their expressions. She doesn't know why she was laughing. It just felt good to laugh. And then came an emotion she was not familiar with. Everything went dark. Her body moved by itself. She was sprinting towards them.

But before she could reach them, strong hands pulled her back. She tried to escape but she couldn't.

"Sylvie! Stop this at once!" Her father shouted.

"The thief! It's the thief!" said one of the noble boy.

"Shut up boy or I'll file a complaint to your father. Accuse me one more time and I will have you imprisoned and fined for wrongful accusation. I did not steal anything. There is no evidence. Now get lost all of you!"

The noble children then ran away and Sylvie calmed down.

"I told you not to speak to them again and you disobeyed me"

"I'm sorry father. I thought apples will be enough"

He sighed "Do not disobey me again Sylvie. Those people are our enemies. I will say this again, never associate with them again. Do you understand?"

Sylvie nodded as answer. This time she was sincere. As she looked at her father she realized that she doesn't need other people. Her father will be the only person she will ever need.

**********

A few moments of walking and Sylvie found herself standing outside their house in the noble district of Holm. The house was large and beautiful but now it stood empty. After her father was exiled, their servants all left.

She had so many memories here. The four corners of their house was her entire childhood. She could still remember the faces of the servants who took care of her. She could even remember the taste of their cooking.

But now all of those were but memories. She had grown and she had experienced many things. She met wonderful people like the smart, a little good-looking but awkward Erik. The house belonged to her now. She had no intention of living in it though. The four corners of their house couldn't satisfy her thirst for new things.

"You came back" A voice said.

Sylvie searched for the voice and found a person standing. Her heart started to throb fast. She couldn't defend herself if the person had vile intention towards her.

The person stepped forward and his face was illuminated by the street lamps. Sylvie recognized him. How could she ever forget.

She took a step back and shook her head in disbelief "Father?"

He smiled "Yes Sylvie. Nice to see you again. It's been a while, isn't it? We have many things to talk about"